She said/He said Who's right? Who's wrong? No one!

[sideWing]

My experience with mine was she came back to the same box each time, if another hen wasn't on that box. The advice I got was to try to move her into a separate area so the other hens don't lay in that box, and don't break eggs. I didn't do that, and I lost a few eggs to the other hens. Turns out that my roo wasn't getting the job done yet, so it wasn't an issue.

If you leave her in with the others, make sure you mark which eggs you are letting her set, so you can take out any new eggs that are laid in that box.

More often than not, mine will stick with the first nest they pick. The good ones do, anyway. I have a few dumb marans that will swap nests

And she goes back to the wrong nest...... You had ONE JOB!




My boy called me after school and she is on the wrong nest. I marked the eggs. I may try to set her up in a bucket or something. The boys are not excited to get bit by her....... again.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

And she goes back to the wrong nest...... You had ONE JOB!




My boy called me after school and she is on the wrong nest. I marked the eggs. I may try to set her up in a bucket or something. The boys are not excited to get bit by her....... again.

Haha. I built a new laying box and moved her into an adjacent run at night, like was recommended to me, and she sat and paced for two days. From what I understand, moving them can be hit or miss.

My wife laughed at me when I came out with my leather welding gloves to move her. But dang it, my memories of being bit by my grandma's broody hens are recent enough I was taking the wimps way out.

 

[scflock]

Haha. I built a new laying box and moved her into an adjacent run at night, like was recommended to me, and she sat and paced for two days. From what I understand, moving them can be hit or miss. 

My wife laughed at me when I came out with my leather welding gloves to move her. But dang it, my memories of being bit by my grandma's broody hens are recent enough I was taking the wimps way out. 

Candy Ace

 

[lazy gardener]

I was just talking about the ship-a-thon. Is someone going to take the lead and organize it?

I used the moisture control stuff from the dollar store. I put a small cup in the incubator and it worked amazing, for me. That was actually my best hatch. I'd empty the cup and put fresh stuff in every 24 hours. (I couldn't get under 60%-dry, so I needed to dry out the air cells for a few days and it worked)! But I think your humidity is perfect! I wouldn't worry about going any lower. I'm actually running higher this batch...45%.

I think it would be a good idea to wait until closer to spring. A lot can change between now and then. The question I have: keep it limited to this thread, or start a new one specifically for that purpose?
Did that moisture control stuff have any scent?

When the time comes we will need at least a list of what people are willing to "donate" for the ship a thon and who would like to participate so that we can at least try to keep any one from being left out that would like to join. I'm going to try to have a dozen (Pure) Silver Laced Appenzeller Spitzhaubens and then mixes if anyone is interested. I will have banty crosses between my Black Jap Bantams and the Spitz too.

And, even availability could change between now and then. Predators come to mind! Then... there's the AI issue. Will Sam be messing with us on egg shipment???

You can eat bear? What does it taste like?
No, I think it's perfect!
Amy, you would be perfect to run it. I'm not saying you have too or should, I just think you'd do a great job organizing it!

I had it once. It was cooked with shake and bake for pork. It tasted very much like pork. A bit coarser grained. I can't think of a better thing to do with a bear than to eat it!!!

Broody question for ya'll.

I tried to break that girl with cool water a few times and she was not having it. I decided to put her to work. We have 4 nest boxes and they all get used. I'm curious if she will go back to the same nest after she takes her daily break or if she will just sit in any box with eggs in it? My boys are gone to school and there are always 15-18 eggs in the other boxes.

I think a lot depends on her placement in the pecking order. My gal was low. She kept getting driven off the nest. So, I moved her, and waited until she settled again before giving her eggs. She was a good broody. She weaned her chicks at 4 weeks. I think she started laying within a few days after that. I gave her extra protein while she was brooding. She did a partial molt, looked pretty ratty for a bit, but she looks great now. Be sure you mark her eggs, and don't give her more than she can cover well.

 

[frmboyinthecity]

Candy Ace

I admit it, and I'm only a little ashamed about it. There was only one time I did that, and that day, I felt like she was possessed with your sweet Damian. She would have taken a finger off if she could have.

 

[sideWing]

I think a lot depends on her placement in the pecking order. My gal was low. She kept getting driven off the nest. So, I moved her, and waited until she settled again before giving her eggs. She was a good broody. She weaned her chicks at 4 weeks. I think she started laying within a few days after that. I gave her extra protein while she was brooding. She did a partial molt, looked pretty ratty for a bit, but she looks great now. Be sure you mark her eggs, and don't give her more than she can cover well.

I marked the eggs. She does not get driven off the nest. I guarantee she just went back to another nest. Maybe I can get the wife to gather eggs during the day to keep her from getting distracted.

 

[RubyNala97]

Did you set on Wednesday night? I have a staggered hatch in there by two days, so I'm not locking down till Monday. But I'll stop turning those on Saturday. I read it's better to stop turning shipped eggs a little earlier, so they can get into position.

I've heard bear taste like........ wait for it............... pork. 


I think they are in the same family as pig.

I thought you were going to say chicken!!!

 

[sideWing]

Did you set on Wednesday night? I have a staggered hatch in there by two days, so I'm not locking down till Monday. But I'll stop turning those on Saturday. I read it's better to stop turning shipped eggs a little earlier, so they can get into position.
I thought you were going to say chicken!!!

Yes, I set on Wed night.

 

[scflock]

I think it would be a good idea to wait until closer to spring. A lot can change between now and then. The question I have: keep it limited to this thread, or start a new one specifically for that purpose?

And, even availability could change between now and then. Predators come to mind! Then... there's the AI issue. Will Sam be messing with us on egg shipment???

Limited to this thread. I don't think it's going to be a set time type thing. I think if someone has eggs available at a given time, they can offer them. For example, I will probably start incubating Ams a month or so after they start laying, hopefully late Oct. early Nov. If I prove fertility, I hope to have eggs available by Jan-Feb. I want to practice shipping. I ship a couple dozen for free and see the results. If I ship, and they hatch, then I may look into either doing a website and selling eggs next year, or selling on BYC.
As far as AI and Sam, these first eggs will be a gift. I am not NPIP. I have eggs that I want to give as a gift to a friend or two from this thread, and if they want to receive that gift, is there anything that stands in the way of that?

 

[scflock]

I admit it, and I'm only a little ashamed about it. There was only one time I did that, and that day, I felt like she was possessed with your sweet Damian. She would have taken a finger off if she could have.

Damien didn't bite. He tried to steal your soul